Biscuit News
11/28/2008 09:23PM (biscuit)
The Biscuit Brothers TV Christmas Special is here! Celebrate December 25th, Biscuit Style with an all-new episode! Here are the air dates for Austin, Texas, and we have made the special available to all other PBS stations in the US for free (
just like our TV show.) If you're not in Austin, call or write your local PBS and ask if they've picked up
the Biscuit Brothers Christmas special. It's all-new and all MERRY!
"
The Biscuit Brothers: Merry Musical Christmas" airs on KLRU, Austin:
Friday morning at 7:30am on Dec 19th
and
Saturday morning at 8am Dec 20th
Also, stay in the holiday spirit and check out our second all-new TV special featuring Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and all manner of other celebrations:
"The Biscuit Brothers: Celebrate with Music" is on KLRU, Austin 12/12 @ 7:30am
12/13 @ 8am
12/26 @ 7:30am
12/27 @ 8am
11/28/2008 09:21PM (biscuit)
Quick note: The Biscuit Brothers will be appearing in the Chuy's "Children Giving to Children" parade in downtown Austin again this year!
Last year we braved the rain and wind to get toys to kids, just like the US Mail service/ This year, neither rain nor sleet nor ... well maybe sleet. I think the weather's supposed to co-operate this year. Bring a toy to donate to the Blue Santa toy drive and come on down!
11/28/2008 09:16PM (biscuit)
Snow, and the expectation thereof.
A Public Service Essay.
The Christmas season is here once again. Carols are filling the air, the whole farm is starting to look festive because Old MacDonald got out the glass ornaments and tartan garland this year, and there seems to be a brass quintet that plays softly muted Christmas Classics every evening around sunset. Just like in the movies.
What's with those guys? I mean, not that I don't like it, I love the sound of soft, slightly introspective trumpets and trombones strolling through "Deck the Halls." I just wonder how they have time to get around so much.
I digress a little. The point of all this is to say that the one thing that seems to be missing thus far is - co-operative weather. I've been spending some time up on the top of Symphony Barn watching the skies for snow because that, to me, would be the perfect capper for all this festive build up. When it snows, it feels like Christmas!
I should mention that it's about 72 degrees as I write this.
Positive things I can do in the warm weather:
Go for a Christmas bike ride.
Mow the lawn.
Play in the Christmas water sprinklers.
It's not all bad. I'm just saying I'd like a little snow.
Fast Fact: Cold Weather does not always equal snow. Check out this article. You need water vapor, too. So maybe the sprinklers are helping!
Probably not. I'm guessing I also need freezing temperatures in the upper levels of the atmosphere and that’s MILES up and I'm only about 24" tall. In boots. So, that's not happening.
Until it gets a little colder around here, I'm going to have to get in the Christmas Spirit without snow. People do it all the time; there are lots of places where it doesn't snow in winter. Folks are still happy and they still have a wonderful time celebrating and enjoying each others company and the music still sounds great!
I guess the public service I can do for you at this point is let you know that there's no snow yet at Old MacDonald's farm so if you're planning a trip here, don't worry about packing heavy coats or snowmobiles.
Also, I can tell you that subtle trumpet harmonies and people singing Christmas Carols goes a long way towards bringing the Christmas Sprit home - so try it today!
Have a very, merry Christmas, and the Happiest of New Year, and celebrate with the ones you love!
t.s.
11/14/2008 09:19AM (biscuit)
It's "Go Make Music: Volume 3" and this installment features, in addition to a stylin' purple jacket and Tiny Scarecrow in a balloon, this DVD features CRAZY CLASSICS!
Yes, you read that right. There's three more episodes of our TV show, and all the episodes on this DVD were nominated for Emmy Awards and most won!
Plus, there's a whole collection of Crazy Classics in a playable list so you can enjoy them a la carte or play them all at once and enjoy the show!
Also, for those of you who've been following our other DVD volumes, Tiny still has issues with the FBI, if you know what I mean. And if you don't, you should pick up all the other volumes of our DVDs to find out!
"Go Make Music: Volume 3" will first be available at our free concert at Central Market in Austin on November 19th, and then it will be on the website as quickly as possible, too. Keep and eye out for special holiday promotions coming later this month when it launches on the site!
09/20/2008 12:00AM (biscuit)
You may not be aware - or if you're an avid PBS watcher maybe you are - but Scarecrows are particularly skilled at calculations, planning, and checking things off lists. We're also really good at "grass blade whistling" but that's a whole different post. This week I'm getting everything ready for the Big Family Music Festival here at the Music Farm! Let's run down today's list, shall we?
Tasty snacks – check. Fun crafts and activities – check. Musical Hayride – check. Giant Farm with historic buildings to explore – double check. Animals to meet, instruments for kids to play, Clifford the Big Red Dog – check check and RUFFF (That’s Big Red Dog-speak for "Check.") And one more thing - Great music in a variety of styles that the whole family can enjoy – triple check with a cherry on top.
There’s lots of work for me to do before you get here though! I’ll tell you - putting up three outdoor stages is exhausting. I’ve also been setting up the special Instrument petting zoo so that kids can try to play all the instruments. But it’s the least a Tiny Scarecrow can do – I mean Old MacDonald only opens his farm to the entire public once every year. And time goes by quick when I can hear all the musicians practicing the music they are going to be playing just for you. All the animals are excited to meet everyone too and they’ve been practicing as well. In fact, I was just talking to the horses and sheep - they’ve been rehearsing in the hayloft and were jockeying (no pun intended) for a position on the line-up. It is, as always, amazing to me how much makeup goes into being a "presentable sheep." They do not, as is commonly assumed, just "roll out of bed" and start acting sheepish. No. There's a lot of work and preparation, not to mention the breathing exercises and warm-up time.
Well, I better run, I need to put up some signs to keep the donkeys out of the stroller parking area. Maybe I’ll see you at the festival; I'll be the one whistling in the grass!
